Support for lighting fixtures employing elongated tubular lamps



Nov. 14, 1950 c. E. BARKER 2,529,990

SUPPORT FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES EMPLOYING ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPS Filed NOV. 20, 1945 ATTO R N EY Patented Nov. 14, 1950 SUPPORT FOR, LIGHTING FIXTURES EM- PLOYING ELONGATED TUBULAR LAMPS Charles Edward Barker, Essex, Mass., assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., Salem, Mass a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 20, 1945, Serial No. 629,756

Claims.

This invention relates to means for installing lighting fixtures and particularly to installing the type of fixture employing tubular lamps.

Fixtures for supporting and energizing tubular type lamps have prior to the present invention been difiicult to handle during their installation due to their size and weight. In many instances it required at least two men to install and connect such fixtures to the electrical supply line.

It is an object of the present invention to greatly reduce the effort and man hours required for installation of such fixtures.

v A further object of the invention is to provide a fixture which insures a maximum degree of safety during installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fixture having means for facilitating repairs after installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fixture having the above efiicient qualities together with attractive appearance and positive, rigid vibration-proof attachment to its support.

The invention will be described in connection with a fluorescent lamp fixture but may be applied to other types of lighting fixtures. The fixture chassis, lamps, lamp holders and lamp energizing units may be of any suitable type. The fixture chassis is provided with a substantially fiat top wall in which an aperture is formed through which power feed wires are passed. The aperture is of a shape to interlock with a fixture supporting plate which in turn is secured to the supporting surface.

The construction of the interlock is such that the fixture may hang temporarily upon the plate spaced from and at an angle to its attaching surface. In this position the opening in the fixture top wall becomes readily accessible to a workman who may make the necessary connections from the fixture to the power supply leads projecting from the supporting surface.

. After the connections are made the fixture is swung upward into operating position and rigidly held in that position by positive locking means.

To present a better understanding of the invention a particular embodiment thereof will be described and illustrated in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a fixture and supporting means embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is -,a partial cross sectional view showing the position of the fixture and means for supporting it while connections to supply wires are made.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view showing the fixture secured in operating position.

Fig; 4 is a partial perspective view showing the relative position of the attaching plate and fixture chassis while the fixture is temporarily supported.

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal view showing the invention adapted to the pendant type of mounting.

The fixture illustrated herein by way of example is provided with an elongated chassis l of channel shaped cross section within which are secured one or more ballast units 2 or other auxiliary equipment for operating the lamps 3. The lamps are supported in sockets enclosed by and supported in casings extending across the ends of the chassis I. The bottom of the chassis is closed by a reflector 4 to direct the light downward. The invention may however be applied to many other types of lighting fixtures.

At least a portion of the top wall of the chassis is substantiall flat and has an opening 5 cut therein. The opening permits power lead wires from the fixture to be led out for connection to a power supply.

The fixture is secured to its supporting surface 6 by means of an attaching plate 1 which is substantially flat and is secured to the surface 6 in any suitable manner as by means of screws .8. The plate is light and rigid and easily installed.

Means are provided for temporarily hanging the fixture upon the plate while connections and adjustments are made after which the same means acts to guide the fixture in operating position and then secure it in that position.

The means for accomplishing this end may be of any suitable construction. As shown herein the plate 1 is provided with depending lips 9 and 10. The lip I-O presents a pair of fixture supporting trunnions ll extending beyond the ends of the lip. A desirable means of forming the trunnions is by rolling the bottom edge of the lip into a bead 12- extending for the full length of the lip and beyond to form the trun nions. ment for the lip.

Th p :9 is v ded w h openi s t receive fastening screws 14 which have screw threaded engagement with the chassis l. Other suitable fastening means may however be used.

The op nin 5 i en ral y r ct ula shape being longer along one of its sides than he a i a s ac s as a r nforcethe other. The side I5 is substantially the same length as the vertical portion of the lip III while the side I6 is of substantially the same length as the beaded portion I2 including the trunnions II. The plate is also provided with an opening I! through which power feed wires are led.

To install the fixture the plate I is first secured to the surface 6 by means of the screws 8 or any suitable anchoring means. The plate is properly positioned to register the opening I! with an outlet box I8 or other power outlet means to permit the power supply wires I9 to be fed through the plate.

The completely assembled fixture is now lifted readily and safely by one man into position with the lip IU of the plate projecting into the lon side I6 of the aperture 5. The fixture is then drawn forward by the workman which locates the trunnions II beneath the portions 20 of the chassis at the ends of the aperture 5 which locates the vertical portion of the lip Ill against the edge of the short side I5 of the aperture.

In this position the fixture hangs from the trunnions and swings down into the position shown in Fig. 2 in which position the opening 5 is readily accessible and the fixture lead wires 2| may be connected to the power supply wires I9 or any other necessary operation may be performed. It will be noted that when the fixture is in this temporary position that its top wall is spaced from the plate 7 an appreciable distance due to its angular position and to the fact that it is supported at the bottom of the lip II]. Thus free access is provided for necessary manipulation.

After the required connections or other adjustments are completed the workman swings the fixture upward and lifts it until the top of fixture engages the plate I and then pulls it forward into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. At this time the lip I has assumed a position within the chassis I and the portion 22 of the top wall of the chassis between the edge of the aperture and the side wall thereof overlies the top face of the plate F. The screws [4 at this time enter the recesses I3 in the lip 9 of the plate and are tightened into locking position. If desired the lower edge of the lip 9 may be bent outward at 23 to underlie the heads of the screws and thus act as an additional means for rigidly securing the fixture to the plate I. By a reverse procedure the fixture may readily be removed from the plate for repair or for replacement of parts. Desirably the edge 2d of the plate I which underlies and supports the fixture is slightly offset downward from the general plane of the plate to provide for the reception of the portion 22 of the fixture chasses. Also it is desirable that the whole plate 1 be slightly spaced from the surface 6. This may be accomplished by providing upwardly ofiset portions 25 through which the screws 8 extend.

It will be noted that throughout the installing procedure the fixture is held against disengagement from the plate after the trunnions on the lip Ii) have been received under the portions 20 of the top wall of the fixture.

The fixture may also be installed by pendant mounting as shown in Fig. 5 wherein the plate I is secured to the lower end of the supporting tubes 26. In this construction the .plate is provided with apertures through which the pendant tubes 26 are received and to which the plate is secured by the nuts 21 in the conventional manner. The tubes 26 are used as conduits through which power supply wires are fed. The fixture is secured to the plate in the same manner as above described.

The present invention reduces the man hours required to install the fixture since one man may easily and safely mount the fixture in a relatively short time. Moreover the installation i accomplished with ease and without subjecting the workman to injury or the fixture to damage. Furthermore repair and replacement service is greatly facilitated.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a fixture for tubular lamps, means for securing the fixture to a support comprising a generally fiat attaching plate means for securing the plate to said support, an elongated temporary supporting panel extending down from said plate and having supporting trunnions parallel thereto and extending horizontally from the bottom edge of its ends, a recess in the top wall of the fixture chassis having a portion thereof long enough to receive said panel and trunnions and a portion lon enough to receive the panel only whereby when the fixture is lifted to insert the panel and trunnions in said recess and then moved laterally the fixture will hang in temporary spaced relation to the plate upon the trunnions of said panel, means to lock the fixture in operating position with a portion of the top wall of the fixture chassis along an edge of said recess overlying said plate and including means on the plate remote from said panel to lock the fixture to the plate.

2. A fixture for tubular lamps having the elements defined in claim 1 and in which the said panel is positioned to extend into the said recess in the top wall of the fixture and be entirely enclosed by said chassis when the fixture is installed and in which the means for locking the fixture to said plate includes a downward bent edge portion of the plate overlying the outer surface of the chassis.

3. A fixture for tubular lamps comprising an assembled chassis containing lamps and their energizing elements, said chassis having a hand hole in its top wall through which the fixture input wires extend, a generally fiat fixture supporting plate overlying said hand hole, means to secure said plate to its supporting surface, said plate havin a downwardly extending flange along one of its edges, trunnions upon the lower portion of said fiange extending beneath the edges of said hand hole and operable to support the fixture in a downwardly swung position spaced from said plate, an interlocking section of the margin of said plate extendin into said hand hole and beneath the adjacent edge thereof when the fixture is in operating position and a second flange depending from the plate at a position remote from said first flange overlying a side wall of said fixture chassis and having means to secure the fixture in operating position with the said first flange and trunnions within and enclosed by the fixture,

4. A fixture for tubular lamps comprising an assembled chassis including lamps and their energizing elements, a hand hole in the top of said chassis through which the fixture input wires extend, a generally fiat fixture supporting plate overlying said hand hole, means to secure said plate to its supporting surface, said plate having a downward extending fiange along one of its edges, trunnions projecting from the lower portion of said flange extending beneath the edges of said hand hole and acting to support the fixture in a downwardly swung position spaced from said plate, an interlocking section of the margin of said plate substantially in the .plane thereof extending into and beneath the edges of said hand hole When the fixture is in operating position, at least one panel extending down from said plate at a position remote from said flange overlying a side Wall of said chassis and having means to lock the fixture in operating position with said flange and trunnions inside and enclosed by said chassis.

5. A fixture for tubular lamps having the elements defined in claim 4 and in which the said interlocking marginal section of the plate is situated at the junction of the said depending flange and the plate.

CHARLES EDWARD BARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS N umber Date 

